2007.03.21: March 21, 2007: Headlines: COS - Paraguay: Palisadian-Post: In Paraguay, instead of major changes, Peace Corps Volunteer Nathaniel Brodie learned that he had to shift his expectations to making small changes

In Paraguay, instead of major changes, Peace Corps Volunteer Nathaniel Brodie learned that he had to shift his expectations to making small changes

In Paraguay, instead of major changes, he learned that he had to shift his expectations to making small changes. 'Just the slightest shift in thought is just as important,' he said. 'You can't instill new agricultural methods in two years; you have to take baby steps.' Upon his return to the U.S., he noticed little things like the pavement and the cars, but what struck him most was people's reaction to his Peace Corps service. A few were interested, but many felt it was unimportant.

Speaking Guarani, the native language of Paraguay, is only one of Nathaniel Brodie's talents; writing with warmth, insight and humor is another. As a result, he is this year's Palisadian-Post Travel Tales contest winner for his story 'Sports and Laughter in Paraguay,' about the village he stayed in during his recent Peace Corps assignment.

Brodie wins a one-night stay for two in the junior executive suite at the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard in Brentwood, which includes parking, breakfast for two and occupancy tax.

After growing up in Pacific Palisades and graduating from Palisades High in 1997, Brodie spent a year traveling in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. 'It opened my eyes to cultural and social differences,' he said.

When he returned home, he chose Evergreen College in Olympia, Washington, because it wasn't a mainstream type of school; it emphasized an interdisciplinary approach in which a theme or a topic is studied through different but related subjects. 'They also offer environmentally focused classes,' said Brodie, 'as well as having a seven-acre organic farm on campus.'

In 2002, after graduating with a major in agriculture and a minor in anthropology, he traveled to Asia with his backpack, visiting Laos, Cambodia, India and Thailand, where his brother, Jedediah, was working on his doctorate in primate studies.

Next he got a job working with the National Park Service at the Grand Canyon. 'I was in a place where people come for an hour, say 'Ooooh!' and then leave,' Brodie said. 'And I got to stay there.' After a year in Arizona, he entered the Peace Corps because 'traveling started to seem superficial.' On another level, he wanted to make a difference. 'I was hoping to install changes and help people.'

In Paraguay, instead of major changes, he learned that he had to shift his expectations to making small changes. 'Just the slightest shift in thought is just as important,' he said. 'You can't instill new agricultural methods in two years; you have to take baby steps.'

Upon his return to the U.S., he noticed little things like the pavement and the cars, but what struck him most was people's reaction to his Peace Corps service. A few were interested, but many felt it was unimportant.

Next month, Brodie will head back to the Grand Canyon. 'I'll be outside all day, building back-country trails,' he said. Then in the fall he'll join his girlfriend at Humboldt College in Eureka, where she is studying canopy biology.

Brodie, 27, is at a crossroads in his life and is trying to decide between pursuing journalism or going the academic route in anthropology. While in Eureka, he hopes to land a job writing for the North Coast Journal; if not, he may work at Redwoods National Park.

He has had articles published in Birders World magazine about birds in Paraguay and in The Humanist about economic and social development in that country.

'Writing comes naturally and easy,' Brodie said, a talent he attributes to an important attribute: 'I was and still am a voracious reader.'

If there are genetic influences on writing talent, Brodie may have inherited a few. His grandmother, Fawn M. Brodie, wrote biographies of Thomas Jefferson and Joseph Smith, and his father, Bruce, a clinical psychologist, has written a new book 'Adolescence and Delinquency.' His mother, Janet, wrote a book based on her doctoral dissertation about birth control in the 18th century and also had the distinction of winning the Post's Travel Tales contest in 2004.

Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace CorpsSenator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

He served with honorOne year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical ClearanceThe purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" againThe LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

PCOL readership increases 100%Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace CorpsPCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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Story Source: Palisadian-Post

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